Combination metal and electroluminescent tube display character



Oct. 3, 1933. H. J. CUDNEY 1,923,619 COMBINATIOD; METAL AN ELECTROLUMINESCENT TUBE DISPLAY CHARACTER Filed Jul 5 1930.

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atenteei ch 3,, 1%33 CgWATKQN ETAL AN can 1' r I. Cudney, 31132250, N. Y., a MM; 2- lume Corporation, Tonawanda, N. E, a corporation of NewYcrh Application July 3, 1930. Serial No. 465,476

13 Claims. (Chet-13b) ported thereby sharply outlining the characters" and enhancing the relief efiect when the tubes are illuminated.

A further object is a sign in, which the metal bodies of the composite display characters are insulated from the supporting means thereby confining the high voltage current in the paths provided by the electroluminescent tubes.

A further object is a composite character in which the securement of the electroluminescent tube is such that the said. tube may be readily detached for refilling, repairing or replacement.

A still further object is a composite display character or unit which is available for day or night use and which is pleasing in appearance during day use with or without illumination of the electroluminescent tube.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

30 Figure l is a front view of a display character constructed in accordance with the invention.

, Figure 2 is an enlarged section of the same taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section showing the manner in which the electroluminescent tube is secured to the body of the character.

Figure 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of Figure 1.

The composite character, as illustrated, comprises a body 5, preferably of sheet metal and an electroluminescent tube 6, the latter constituting a component part of the character and adapted to effect illumination oi the character in the manner to be described.

The body 5 is formed with a face 5a of the configuration of the desired character and with marginal sides 7, the latter extending from the face toward but short of the surface S of the supporting wall W to which the character is secured. In accordance with the invention, portions of the face 5a are cut away to provide an opening 8 which conforms in general to the outline, or a portion thereof, of the character.

The tube 6 is supported behind the opening 8 and preferably extends through the same above the face So as at 9.

The-tube may be supported to project beyond the face of the body 5 to the extent desired. To facilitate mounting of the tube, I prefer that the width of the opening 8 be slightly less than the diameter of the tube 6. with this size opening the marginal portions of the face 5a which outline the opening 8 engage the tube slightly 6&3 beyond the point of its greatest width, as best shown in Figure 2, and prevent further outward movement of the said tube. The tube may be secured as thus engaged and held against inward movement by strap clamps 14. By virtue of this construction, the tube may be quickly removed forrepair, refilling or replacement by first removing the said clamps. The terminals 15 of the tube may be suitably connected to power.

The portion 9 of the tube which extends beyond the face 5a provides the body 5 of the character with raised center strokes and when the tube is illuminated this portion serves to illuminate the said face. 89

While the character may be secured in any suitable manner to the support W, the surface S of which is to provide its background, it is preferred that the securement be effected through the agency of the sides 7. To this end, the said 35 sides have suitably secured thereto opposed brackets 10 of U-shaped cross-section and a panel 11 is secured between each pair of said brackets. Headed supporting posts 12 extend through the said panels and are secured theretoas by nuts 13, the posts 12 being of a length suificient to permit the securement of the character to the wall W at the desired distance from the surface S thereof.

The panels 11 may be of any material desired but are preferably formed of glass. Glass'panels are desirable as they insulate the characters from the securing means and hence insure confinement of the high voltage current in the path provided by the tube and thus enables the sup- .port of the tube against the metal body of the is supported in front of the surface S at a substantial distance therefrom and hence when the tube 6 is illuminated part of the light from the tube is directed toward the surface S and due to the spacing of sides '7 from the said surface an enlarged silhouette 13aof the character is produced directly behind it. This is particularly desirable because of the definite relief effect produced at night when the tube is illuminated. At night, of course, the sides 7 of the body are dark and the face 5a is illuminated as described. The silhouette which is projected upon the surface S is, as is the face of the body 5, illuminated and hence the character, when viewed at any point except directly from the front has a pronounced relief effect which lends materially to its attractiveness.

The display character, although suitable for other purposes, has particular utility where it is desired that the characters of the sign be supported directly by the structure with which they are to be associated without a sign casing. In this arrangement each character constitutes a complete display unit and its supporting means is concealed from view. The display characters have the further advantages that they are pleasing and attractive in appearance during day use when the electroluminescent tubes are not illuminated as well as during night or day use when the said tubes are illuminated.

I claim as my invention:

1. A display character comprising a body formed with a face which is of the shape of said character, said face being formed with an opening which follows the outline of said face, an electroluminescent tube associated with said body and following said opening, said tube being displayed through said opening and means for supporting said tube against said body so that a portion of its body extends through said opening.

2. A display character comprising a body formed with a face which is of the shape of said character, said face being formed with an opening which follows the outline of said face, an electroluminescent tube associated with said body and following said opening, said tube being displayed through said opening and being formed to engage portions of said face which define said opening and means for securing said tube against said face portions as engaged.

3. A display character comprising a body formed with a face which is of the shape of said character, said face being formed with an opening which follows the outline of said face, an electroluminescent tubeassociated with said body and following said opening, said tube being displayed through said opening and being of greater diameter than the width of said opening whereby said tube is engaged by the said face at a point beyond its greatest width and means for securing said tube to said face as engaged.

4. A display character comprising a body formed with a face which is of the shape of said character and with sides which extend angularly from said face, said face being formed with an opening which follows the outline of said face, an electroluminescent tube associated with said body and following said opening, said tube being partially displayed through said opening and being of a greater diameter than the width of said opening whereby it is engaged by portions of said face which define said opening and means for securing said tube to said face as engaged, said sides concealing that portion of the tube which extends behind said face.

5. A display character comprising a body formed with a face which is of the shape of said character, said face being formed with an opening which is similar in outline to said character, an electroluminescent tube associated with said body and following said opening, said tube being displayed through said opening and means for securing said tube to said body so that it extends through said opening above the surface of said face whereby when the said tube is illuminated the character strokes of said character will have center strokes of the color provided by said tube.

6. In a sign, the combination of a body formed with a face which is of the shape of a display character, said face having an opening, an electroluminescent tube associated with said body and displayed through said opening in said face, means for securing said tube so that it extends through said opening above said face, of a support for said body and means for securing said body to said support, said securing means last mentioned being adapted to insulate said body from said support.

'1. In a sign, the combination with a body 0 formed with a face which is of the shape of a display character and with sides which extend angularly from said face, said face having an opening, an electroluminescent tube associated with said body and displayed through said opening, means for securing said tube so that it extends through said opening above said face, of a support for said body, and means for securing said body to said support so that the sides of said body are spaced from the surface of said support whereby when the tube is illuminated a silhouette of the body is produced upon said surface.

8. In a sign, the combination with a body formed with a face of the shape of a display character and with sides which extend angularly from said face, said face having an opening, an electroluminescent tube associated with said body' and displayed through said opening, means for securing said tube so that it extends through said opening above the face of said body, of a support for said body and means for securing said body to said support so that the sides of said body are spaced from the surface of said support whereby when said tube is illuminated, the face of said body is illuminated and a silhouette of the same is produced on said surface, said securing means last mentioned being adapted to insulate said body from said support.

9. In a sign, the combination with a body formed with a face of the shape of a display character and with sides which extend angularly from said face, said face having an opening, an electroluminescent tube associated with said body and displayed through said opening, means for securing said tube so that it extends through said opening above the face of said body, of a support for said body and means for securing said body to said support so that the sides of said body are spaced from the surface of said support whereby when the said tube is illuminated, the face of. said body is illuminated and a sil- 'houette of the same is produced upon said surface, said securing means last mentioned including a transparent element which insulates said body from said support while permitting passage of light from said tube to the surface of said support.

10. In a sign, the combination with a metal 50 body formed in its face with an opening in the shape of a display character, of an electroluminescent tube displayed through and correspond xand means for securing said body to said suping in outline to said opening, a support and means for mounting said body upon said sup port. said means including an insulating element whereby said tube may be secured directly against said body and yet be insulated from said support. r

11. In a sign, the combination with a metal body formed with a face which is of rthe shape of a display character, said face having an opening, of an electroluminescent tube displayed through and corresponding in outline to said opening, a support and means for mounting said body upon said support, said means including an insulating element whereby said tube may be secured directly against said body and yet be insulated from said support. 7 s. 1

12. In a sign, the combination with a, body formed with a face which is of the {sha'pegof a display character and with sideswhichbxtend angularly from said face, said'face. having an opening and an electroluminescent tube displayed through said opening, of a support for said body port so that the sides thereof are spaced from the surface of said support, whereby when the tube is illuminated a silhouette of the body is provided upon said surface.

13. In a sign, the combination with a body formed with a face of the shape of a display character and with sides which extend angularly from said face, said face having an opening and port.

- HARRY J. 'CUDNEY. 

